U.S. patent number 9,403,501 [Application Number 14/537,365] was granted by the patent office on 2016-08-02 for carrier system and method thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MAGNA ELECTRONICS SOLUTIONS GMBH. The grantee listed for this patent is MAGNA ELECTRONICS SOLUTIONS GMBH. Invention is credited to Jiun-Shiung Chen, Chih-Wei Teng.
United States Patent |
9,403,501 |
Teng , et al. |
August 2, 2016 |
Carrier system and method thereof
Abstract
A carrier system includes at least one seat and a radio wave
detection device. The radio wave detection device is configured to
emit a detection wave towards at least one seat of the carrier. A
reflected wave reflected in response to the detection wave is
received by the radio wave detection device. A position of an
occupied seat and a type of an occupant on the occupied seat are
determined in response to the received reflected wave. A safety
mechanism is activated in response to the position of the occupied
seat and the type of the occupants.
Inventors: |
Teng; Chih-Wei (Taipei,
TW), Chen; Jiun-Shiung (Taipei, TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAGNA ELECTRONICS SOLUTIONS GMBH |
Wetzlar |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAGNA ELECTRONICS SOLUTIONS
GMBH (Wetzlar, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
53042762 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/537,365 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150129343 A1 |
May 14, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 13, 2013 [CN] |
|
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2013 1 0573994 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/002 (20130101); B60R 21/01534 (20141001); B60R
2021/01088 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
21/015 (20060101); B60N 2/00 (20060101); B60R
21/01 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2636099 |
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Feb 1978 |
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DE |
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3732936 |
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Sep 1987 |
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DE |
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9006007 |
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Jun 1991 |
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DE |
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0235372 |
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Nov 1986 |
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EP |
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2252438 |
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Aug 1992 |
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GB |
|
2266799 |
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Nov 1993 |
|
GB |
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WO 9739920 |
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Oct 1997 |
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WO |
|
Other References
"Kit 62 Movement Detector Components", Sep. 24, 1994 p. 1-5. cited
by applicant .
International Search Report for corresponding International
Application No. PCT/US05/42504, filed on Nov. 22, 2005. cited by
applicant .
Securaplane Technologies Product Information. cited by applicant
.
Supplementary European Search Report for corresponding European
patent Application No. 05852083.4-1264/1817760, dated Mar. 26,
2010. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Verley; Nicole
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gardner, Linn, Burkhart &
Flory, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A carrier including a carrier system, comprising: at least one
seat; a radio wave detection device configured to emit a detection
wave towards the at least one seat and receive a reflected wave
reflected in response to the detection wave, and determine a
position of an occupied seat and a type of an occupant on the
occupied seat in response to the reflected wave, and activate a
safety mechanism in response to the position of the occupied seat
and the type of the occupants; wherein the radio wave detection
device includes at least one radio wave transceiver facing toward
the at least one seat, and the radio wave transceiver is configured
to emit the detection wave towards a pre-determined position of the
at least one seat and receive the reflected wave reflected by the
pre-determined position of the at least one seat; and wherein the
at least one radio wave transceiver moves in a rotational manner to
detect the at least one seat.
2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the safety mechanism is
configured to deliver an alert message or activate at least one
airbag when an accident occurs.
3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the radio wave detection device
comprises a processor configured to determine whether the reflected
wave includes a characteristic frequency in response to heart
beating or breathing of the occupant.
4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the processor configured to
obtain a detection distance by calculating a time of flight (TOF)
between the detection wave and the reflected wave, and map the
detection distance with a pre-determined distance between the radio
wave detection device and the occupied seat.
5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one radio wave
transceiver is disposed in response to different reception beam
angles.
6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the radio wave detection device
is disposed above the at least one seat.
7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the radio wave detection device
is disposed in front of the at least one seat.
8. A carrier including a carrier system, comprising: at least one
seat; a radio wave detection device having a radio wave transceiver
configured to emit a detection wave towards the at least one seat
and receive a reflected wave reflected in response to the detection
wave, the radio wave detection device configured to determine a
position of an occupied seat and a type of an occupant on the
occupied seat in response to the reflected wave, and activate a
safety mechanism in response to the position of the occupied seat
and the type of the occupants; wherein the at least one radio wave
transceiver is disposed in response to different reception beam
angles; and wherein the at least one radio wave transceiver moves
in a rotational manner to detect different positions, along a
vertical direction, of the at least one seat.
9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the radio wave transceiver is
configured to emit the detection wave towards a pre-determined
position of the at least one seat and to receive the reflected wave
reflected by the pre-determined position of the at least one
seat.
10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the at least one radio wave
transceiver moves in a rotational manner to detect the at least one
seat.
11. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the safety mechanism is
configured to deliver an alert message or activate at least one
airbag when an accident occurs.
12. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the radio wave detection device
comprises a processor configured to determine whether the reflected
wave includes a characteristic frequency in response to heart
beating or breathing of the occupant.
13. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the processor configured to
obtain a detection distance by calculating a time of flight (TOF)
between the detection wave and the reflected wave, and map the
detection distance with a pre-determined distance between the radio
wave detection device and the occupied seat.
14. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the radio wave detection device
is disposed above the at least one seat.
15. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the radio wave detection device
is disposed in front of the at least one seat.
Description
This application claims the benefit of People's Republic of China
application Serial No. 201310573994.1, filed Nov. 13, 2013, the
subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a carrier system and a method thereof, and
in particular, to a carrier system utilizing a radio wave to
determine the occupation state of a seat and a type of the occupant
on the seat of a carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
In vehicle design, occupants' safety, especially in driving, has
always been an important topic. Most vehicles are equipped with a
relevant safety mechanism for protecting the occupants in the
vehicle in response to the situations, relevant to the occupants'
safety, happened to the vehicle. For example, the safety mechanism
will be activated to deliver an alert message, such as an audio
alert message or an indicating light, to notify the occupants in
the vehicle, when the occupants do not buckle-up the seatbelt
completely or the doors of the vehicle are not closed
completely.
The safety mechanism may further include a pressure detection
system. The pressure detection system includes a pressure sensor
disposed in a seat which is configured to determine, by sensing the
occupant's weight on the seat, whether an occupant is on the seat.
Therefore, the safety mechanism will be activated to enable an
airbag in response to the occupied seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention discloses a carrier system and a method thereof. The
system utilizes a radio wave to determine the occupation state and
the type of the occupant on a seat of a carrier. Moreover, a safety
mechanism is activated in response to the position of the occupied
seat and the type of the occupant on the occupied seat to assure
occupant's safety.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method
implemented by a carrier system includes the steps: emitting a
detection wave towards at least one seat of the carrier by a radio
wave detection device, receiving a reflected wave reflected in
response to the detection wave , determining a position of an
occupied seat and a type of an occupant on the occupied seat in
response to the received reflected wave and activating a safety
mechanism in response to the position of the occupied seat and the
type of the occupant.
According to another one embodiment, a carrier system includes at
least one seat and a radio wave detection device. The radio wave
detection device is configured to emit a detection wave towards the
at least one seat and receive a reflected wave reflected in
response to the detection wave, and determine a position of an
occupied seat and a type of an occupant on the occupied seat in
response to the reflected wave, and activate a safety mechanism in
response to the position of the occupied seat and the type of the
occupants.
The above and other aspects of the invention will become better
understood with regard to the following detailed description of the
preferred but non-limiting embodiment(s). The following description
is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a carrier system installed in a
carrier in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a function block diagram of a radio wave detection
device in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of determining the type of the
occupant in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of determining the type of the
occupant in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method implemented by a carrier system
in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a carrier system in one embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a carrier system in one embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of determining the type of the
occupant in one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The radar or radio frequency (RF) detection technology has been
widely applied in fields such as reversing radar, motion sensor
lighting device, or monitoring device. The radio waves used in the
above fields include microwave, infra-red (IR) wave, ultrasonic or
acoustic wave, electromagnetic wave, laser, and light wave. In
microwave detection technology, for example, the frequency of an
emitted detection wave is compared, by using the Doppler's
principle, with that of the received wave. When an object moves in
front of a sensor, a frequency difference of an emitted wave and a
received wave is obtained in response to the movement of the
object. For example, in the ultrasonic detecting technology, a
detection wave is generated by a sensing device through a vibration
with a specific frequency. A reflected wave is then reflected by an
object as the emitted detection wave hitting the object is received
by the sensing device. Moreover, the distance between the sensing
device and the object is determined in response to a time of flight
(TOF), which is a time elapsed from emitting a detection wave to
receiving a reflected wave reflected in response to the detection
wave.
Furthermore, with the development of radio wave detection
technology, the state or the property of a designated target can be
determined according to the signal or the wave reflected in
response to the designated target. For example, a radio wave, which
is capable of penetrating human body, is emitted towards a
designated target and a signal reflected in response to the radio
wave is examined according to the Doppler's principle. If the
reflected signal includes characteristics relevant to the
frequencies of human's heart beating or breathing, the designated
target is determined as an occupant such as human beings.
FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a carrier system 100 in one
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, the
carrier system 100 is installed in a carrier 10 which includes at
least one seat. Moreover, the carrier system 100 includes a radio
wave detection device 20 configured to emit a detection wave
towards the at least one seat 11-15 and receive a reflected wave
reflected in response to the detection wave. A position of an
occupied seat and a type of an occupant on the occupied seat are
determined in response to a received reflected wave, and a safety
mechanism is activated in response to the position of the occupied
seat and the type of the occupants. In this embodiment, the carrier
10 includes a sedan. In some embodiments, the carrier 10 includes
carriers in any means of transport.
The carrier system 100 of the present invention provides a
contactless detection by utilizing a radio wave. In this
embodiment, the radio wave detection device 20 is disposed, for
example, under the roof of the carrier 10 embedded with the
rear-view mirror, to detect the occupant seated on the at least one
seat.
FIG. 1B is a functional block diagram of the radio wave detection
device 20 in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 1B, the radio wave detection device 20 includes a processor 26
and a plurality of radio wave transceivers. In this embodiment, the
radio wave detection device 20 includes five radio wave
transceivers 21-25 which are respectively arranged in response to
five seats 11-15 of the carrier 10. In other words, the five radio
wave transceivers 21-25 respectively face toward the five seats
11-15. Each of the radio wave transceivers emits a detection wave
towards a position of the seat and receives a reflected wave
reflected in response to the detection wave. In some embodiments,
each of the radio wave transceivers emits a detection wave towards
the seat and receives a reflected wave reflected in response to the
detection wave hit the seat.
In some embodiments, the number of the transceiver of the radio
wave detection device 20 is not limited. Moreover, in still some
embodiments, the number of the transceiver of the radio wave
detection device 20 may not be equal to the number of the seats of
the carrier. For example, a transceiver is capable of detecting all
the targets within a detection range simultaneously. In still some
embodiments, a transceiver is capable of detecting every target
within the detection range sequentially in a mechanical rotation
manner. Furthermore, in respect of the detection time, the
one-to-one arrangement of the transceivers and the targets provides
a way of parallel scanning. Moreover, the one-to-many arrangement
of the transceivers and the targets provides a way of sequential
detection.
Each of the radio wave transceivers 21-25 is electrically connected
to the processor 26 and emits a detection wave under the control of
the processor 26. Then, the processor 26 examines and determines
the reflected waves received by each of the transceivers.
In this embodiment, first of all, the radio wave transceivers 21-25
of the radio wave detection device 20 respectively emit detection
waves 31-35 towards the seats 11-15 of the carrier 10, as shown in
FIG. 1A. The radio wave transceivers 21-25 of the radio wave
detection device 20 respectively receive reflected waves (not
illustrated) reflected in response to the detection waves
31-35.
Furthermore, the detection waves 31-35 may include different
frequencies and amplitudes for different transmission distances of
the designated targets. No matter the designated seat is occupied
by an occupant or not, a reflected wave is reflected in response to
the detection wave hit the seat or the occupant. Moreover, the
reflected wave, reflected in response to the detection wave hit an
occupant, includes characteristic frequencies different from that
of the detection wave hit the seat.
Then, the processor 26 determines whether the reflected wave
includes a characteristic frequency relevant to heart beating or
breathing of the occupant. When the determined reflected wave does
not include such characteristic frequencies, the seat is determined
as an un-occupied state. In contrast, when the determined reflected
wave includes such characteristic frequencies, the seat is
determined as an occupied state. In this embodiment, the present
invention is capable of detecting, by utilizing a radio wave, and
determining whether a seat of the carrier is occupied. Since the
frequency of heart beating and breathing is easy to be identified,
the accuracy of the detection will be improved.
In order to avoid delivering unnecessary alert messages, in one
embodiment of the present invention, a relevant safety mechanism of
the carrier system 100 is activated only when an occupied state of
the seat is confirmed. The safety mechanism, in some embodiments,
includes delivering an alert message of buckling up seatbelt or
using infant car seat. In some embodiments, the safety mechanism
includes enabling an airbag in response to the occupied seat while
an accident happens. Moreover, in still another embodiment of the
present invention, the carrier system 100 is capable of determining
a type of the occupant in response to the reflected position of the
reflected wave and a relevant safety mechanism of the carrier
system 100 is activated.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of determining the type of the
occupant in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 2, for example, a kid 41 is sitting in an infant car seat 40.
In this embodiment, the infant car seat 40 includes a rear-facing
and fixed on the seat 15. Since the occupant leans on the infant
car seat 40 and faces toward a seatback of the seat 15, the
reflected position of the reflected wave is a position of the
infant car seat 40 when the detection wave 35 is emitted towards
the seat 15.
Moreover, a distance between the radio wave detection device 20 and
the seat 15 is defined as a pre-determined distance. In some
embodiments, the pre-determined distance can be the distance
between the radio wave detection device 20 and a seatback of the
seat 15. Then, the processor 26 calculates a time of flight (TOF),
a time elapsed from emitting a detection wave to receiving the
reflected wave (not illustrated) reflected in response to the
detection wave 35, for obtaining a detection distance. Therefore,
in this embodiment, the detection distance is a distance between
the radio wave detection device 20 and the kid 41, which can be
used to determine the reflected position of the reflected wave.
Then, the processor 26 compares the detection distance with the
pre-determined distance to determine the type of the occupant. When
the detection distance is smaller than the pre-determined distance,
as shown in FIG. 2, the type of the occupant is determined as a
young child or an infant. In contrast, when the type of the
occupant is an adult or an occupant then the occupant leans on the
seatback. Therefore, the detection distance will be approximately
equal to the pre-determined distance. The reflected wave will be
reflected by the seatback of the seat.
In this embodiment, the radio wave transceivers of the radio wave
detection device 20 are respectively arranged in response to the
seats of the carrier 10. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto and various modifications may further be made to
above embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of determining the type of the
occupant in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 3, an occupant, for example, an adult 51, is sitting on a seat
12 of the carrier 10. In this embodiment, the radio wave detection
device 20' includes a first radio wave transceiver 22a and a second
radio wave transceiver 22b facing toward the seat 12 of the carrier
10. Moreover, the radio wave transceiver includes a narrow beam
antenna which is able to emit a plurality of radio waves toward a
pre-determined direction, for example, a vertical direction.
Furthermore, in order to improving the detection accuracy and
enlarging the detection coverage, in some embodiments, the number
of the radio wave transceiver is increased. Moreover, in some
embodiments, the radio wave detection device 20' includes a
rotating antenna which provides a way of detecting different
positions in a predetermined direction. In other embodiments, the
radio wave detection device 20' includes a rotating radio wave
detection device which provides a way of detecting different
positions in a predetermined direction.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first radio wave transceiver 22a and the
second radio wave transceiver 22b are disposed at different
reception beam angles for detecting the different occupants' height
types. The first radio wave transceiver 22a is disposed in response
to an adult, and the second radio wave transceiver 22b is disposed
in response to a kid. Moreover, the reception beam angle of the
radio wave transceiver is able to be adjusted in response to the
different heights of the occupant.
Due to heights' differences, the reflected position of the
reflected waves including characteristic frequencies relevant to
human's physiological information, for example, heart beating or
breathing, is different in response to the occupants' height.
Therefore, the processor 26 is able to determine a type of the
occupant in response to the reflected position of the reflected
waves including physiological information.
As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, a first detection wave 32a
and a second detection wave 32b are simultaneously emitted toward
the seat 12. Therefore, when an adult is sitting on the seat 12, a
first reflected wave (not illustrated) including the physiological
information, relevant to the reflected position of heart beating of
the adult 51, will be received by the first radio wave transceiver
22a. Moreover, a second reflected wave (not illustrated) reflected
in response to the second detection wave 32b will not include the
physiological information and the reflected position of the adult.
Furthermore, when a kid 41 is sitting on the seat 12, the first
reflected wave (not shown) reflected in response to the first
detection wave 32a will not include the physiological information.
Meanwhile, the second reflected wave (not shown) including the
physiological information and the reflected position, on the kid
41, of the second reflected wave will be received by the second
radio wave transceiver 22b.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method implemented by a carrier system
in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in
step S1, a detection wave is emitted, by a radio wave detection
device, toward at least one seat of a carrier and a reflected wave
reflected in response to the detection wave is received. Next, in
step S2, the received reflected wave is determined whether includes
a characteristic frequency relevant to physiological information.
In step S3, when the reflected wave does not include the
characteristic frequency relevant to physiological information, the
at least one seat is determined at an un-occupied status. In step
S4, when the reflected wave includes the characteristic frequency
relevant to physiological information, the seat is determined at an
occupied status and seated by an occupant. A type of an occupant is
then determined in response to the reflected position. Moreover, a
position of an occupied seat is determined in response to the
received reflected wave. In step S5, a safety mechanism is
activated in response to the type of the occupant and the occupied
seat.
Moreover, in one embodiment, the carrier may include a plurality of
radio wave detection devices. The radio wave detection devices are
respectively arranged to face a plurality of seats. In this
embodiment, a radio wave detection device is arranged to face a
seat. Therefore, the radio wave detection device is capable of
detecting the seat and a safety mechanism is activated in response
to the detected seat.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a carrier system 102 in one
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the
carrier system 102 is similar to the carrier system 100 of FIG. 1 A
but includes five radio wave detection devices 20a-20e. The five
radio wave detection devices 20a-20e are respectively arranged in
response to five seats 11-15 of the carrier 10. In some
embodiments, the radio wave detection devices 20a and 20b are
respectively disposed in the seatback of the seats 11 and 12. In
other embodiments, the radio wave detection devices 20a and 20b are
respectively disposed on the seatback of the seats 11 and 12.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the radio wave detection devices 20a
and 20b are configured to emit the detection waves 31 and 32 toward
occupants seated on the seats 11 and 12. Furthermore, the radio
wave detection devices 20c-20e are respectively arranged above the
seats 13-15 to emit the detection waves 33-35 toward the occupants
seated on the seats 13-15.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a carrier system 103 in one
embodiment of the present invention. The carrier system 103 of FIG.
6, in some embodiments, is similar to the carrier system 102 of
FIG. 5 but the radio wave detection devices 20a-20e are
respectively disposed in the seatback of the seats 11-15. In other
embodiments, the radio wave detection devices 20a-20e are
respectively disposed behind the seatback of the seats 11-15. As
shown in FIG. 6 the radio wave detection devices 20a-20e
respectively emit the detection waves 31-35 towards the occupants
seated on the seat 11-15.
Moreover, in some embodiments, each of radio wave detection devices
includes a processor and a radio wave transceiver for raising up
the detection accuracy. In other embodiments, for reducing the
cost, a plurality of detection devices is coupled to at least one
processor. Moreover, in still other embodiments, due to a number of
the plurality of the detection devices is less than a number of the
seats, the plurality of the detection devices is configured to
respectively detect each of the seats in a rotation manner. In some
embodiments, a plurality of radio detection devices is disposed
above a seat. Therefore, the plurality of radio detection devices
is capable of determining a type of occupants.
FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of determining a type of occupant in
one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, in
this embodiment, a plurality of radio wave detection devices 320 to
323 is disposed alone a vertical direction in a seatback of the
seat 12. Moreover, for example, an adult or a kid is sitting on the
seat 12, and the hearts' positions 61-63 represent different
occupants' height types. Next, three radio wave detection devices
20b1-20b3, disposed at different vertical heights, emit detection
waves 321-323 respectively.
A detection distance d1 respectively represents a distance between
the occupants' hearts 61-63 and the radio wave detection devices
20b1-20b3. A pre-determined distance d2 respectively represents a
height at which the radio wave detection devices 20b1-20b3
disposed. Therefore, the detection distance d1 is determined in
response to a time of flight (TOF). Moreover, the type of the
occupant is determined in response the radio wave device which
receives the reflected wave including information of heart
beatings. In some embodiments, when an occupant is on the seat 12
and the radio wave detection device 20b1 received a reflected wave
including information of heart beatings, the occupant is then
determined as an adult.
Moreover, in some embodiments, when an occupant is on the seat 12
and the radio wave detection device 20b2 received a reflected wave
including information of heart beatings and the distance d1 is
shorter, compared with a predetermined distance, the occupant is
determined as an infant car seat forward-facing disposed and an
infant is seated in the infant car seat.
In summary, the present invention discloses a carrier system for
determining, by a radio wave, the occupation state of a seat of a
carrier. The carrier system provides a contactless detection which
considerably reduces the disposition cost and maintenance cost of
the detection device. In some embodiments, when a young child is
not sitting in an infant car seat, or the young child is sitting at
a front seat or the infant car seat is placed at the front seat, an
alert message is delivered to warn the driver. When an infant car
seat is disposed on a rear seat, the airbag relevant to the rear
seat can be disabled to prevent damages made by an air bag
explosion. Moreover, when an adult is sitting on a seat of the
carrier, the adult will receive an alert message, such as buckling
the seatbelt, will be delivered to the adult.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in
terms of the preferred embodiment(s), it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore
should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass
all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
* * * * *